Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
com
So you want to write a fantasy novel. You're enamoured with epic sagas from the likes
of Tolkien, Martin and Rowling; you love everything about the genre, and you feel that
But this is a complicated genre to write in. While there aren't hard-and-fast rules to
follow, there are certain elements that must be included for a story to be classified as
'fantasy'. However original your story may be, it does need to fit somewhere within the
Fantasy readers expect certain things from the books they consume. And no, we're not
talking about common tropes like elves, dwarves, trolls and dragons! We're referring to
much broader elements – general concepts within which you can be as inventive and
So without further ado, let's take a look at the five essential elements every fantasy
novel needs.
1
1. A magic system
This is the element that sets fantasy fiction apart from other genres. For a story to be
considered 'fantasy', it needs to contain some sort of magic system. But what exactly do
we mean by this?
In short, a magic system refers to things that occur or exist in your story that do not or
cannot exist in the real world. Elements of sorcery, witchcraft and enchantment;
2
This is where you can really set your story apart from others in the genre. If your magic
system is completely unique and imaginative, if it's something readers haven't seen
An innovative, intriguing magic system is often the key to helping your novel stand out in
Your magic system should play a key part in your story. Whether it's a source of conflict
(see more on this below), a driving plot force, or a means for character development,
magic is of vital importance in every fantasy novel. But it can't be treated merely as a
convenient plot device; your magic system needs to have established rules, and it
3
Your fantasy story should contain things that would never be experienced in the real
To get an idea of what constitutes a well-developed magic system, take a look at the
George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series contains some standard magical
elements such as dragons, prophecies and the resurrected dead, but the complex way
he weaves these elements together makes for compelling and original fantasy.
Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles, on the other hand, involves a unique magic
system that is almost more like a science. The central story revolves around people
4
known as arcanists, who practise arts like alchemy, 'sympathy' (a type of energy
manipulation) and 'naming' (wherein someone discovers the 'true name' of a thing and
As you'll see when you dip into the vast canon of fantasy literature, there's no end to the
Whatever your story, it must resonate with some kind of magic to fit into the category of
5
2. A well-developed setting
This is another absolutely vital element within fantasy fiction. When you're writing in this
genre, your story takes place in a completely new world. (And even if your fantasy is
based on Earth, it's not the Earth we actually know.) In order to immerse readers in your
often viewed as the original master world-builder; the depth and detail with which he
customs to history and lore is explored throughout The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings
Now, don't intimidate yourself by comparing your world-building to that of a master like
Tolkien! Remember that the world of Middle-earth was his life's work, and he spent
years and years developing it. When you're writing your first fantasy novel, it's best to
start small and build your world from the ground up.
6
Setting is of the utmost importance in fantasy fiction. Image via Pixabay
Here are a few things to consider when starting the process of developing your setting:
● What does it look, sound and smell like? Consider things like landscape, climate,
● What are its people like? Are there distinct groups or classes? How does society
operate?
● Who holds the power in your world? (More on this point below.)
7
There are plenty more aspects to consider when developing your setting. Check out our
Ultimate Guide to World-building for an in-depth look at how to approach the process.
You must take readers on a sensory journey throughout your world. Image via Pixabay
As with any novel, it's often the characters in fantasy fiction that truly get readers
invested in the story. Your setting, plot and magic system may intrigue and engage
readers, but none of these aspects matter if your readers don't care about the
8
How many characters your story contains is entirely up to you, but if you're writing a
series (as the majority of fantasy writers are), it's better to have a cast of several main
characters, as well as your auxiliary characters. This provides interest and diversity
within the story, helping to sustain readers' engagement over multiple books.
However, to sharpen focus and encourage reader empathy, you might like to consider
having one 'standout' main character, with whom your readers will experience the
majority of the story. Alternatively, if your story is extra complex and your cast of
characters especially large, you may wish to have more than one of these main
characters.
A good example of the latter technique is Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series, which
mainly sticks with the viewpoint of main character Celaena, but expands into multiple
viewpoints as the series grows in scope and complexity. (See our article on how to
master alternate points of view for more on managing multiple POV characters.)
9
Your readers must closely follow the journey of at least one main character. Image via
Pixabay
No matter which method you choose, the key thing to focus on is creating complex,
flawed, believable, relatable and realistic characters. Even though your story takes
place in a fantasy world, your characters should still be viewed as 'real people', and
Another of the most important things to remember when writing fantasy characters is to
avoid clichés. If possible, steer clear of overused fantasy tropes, such as the farm boy
10
who is really the 'chosen one' or the old, wise wizard/mentor. Unless you can breathe
fresh air and originality into these character types, it's best to avoid them entirely.
Take a look at the results from a recent poll about the top fantasy characters of all time.
There's a wide range of different types of characters here, from Death in Terry
While not definitive, this list gives you a good idea of the endless potential there is for
developing original fantasy characters that will truly resonate with your readers.
11
Utilising a cast of intriguing characters is a good way to provide interest throughout your
4. A central conflict
The key to every good story is conflict. This is especially true in fantasy fiction, where
the stakes are often higher for your characters, and the story usually stretches across
There are a few types of conflict you can (and should) explore within your story:
force.
While these different conflicts are all important, it's vital to have an overarching central
12
Remember that internal conflict is important, too. Image credit: Chetan Menaria via
Unsplash
The Harry Potter series is a great example of conflict in fantasy fiction. While each book
contains its own internal conflicts, the series as a whole deals with one central conflict:
that between the boy wizard Harry and the evil Lord Voldemort. This conflict ties all
seven volumes of the series together and keeps the story moving forward at all times.
A note of caution: don't be tempted to write in conflict just for the sake of it – for
example, in the form of an unnecessary extra battle or fight scene. While you want to
13
keep your readers engaged and excited, introducing conflict purely for the sake of
creating some action will make the story seem forced and unnatural.
characters' actions and follow them on their natural course. All conflict must have a
believable cause.
Set the pieces in motion for conflict in your fantasy story. Image via Pixabay
14
5. A power structure/system of government
In every fantasy world, there must be an established power structure. This usually refers
to a system of government within the world. (The only exception to this is if you've
created a world in which the 'system' is actually complete anarchy, but this would lead
to pure chaos and might prove difficult to shape into a coherent story.)
To work out your world's system, begin by asking one simple question: who holds the
power within this world? It might begin with a single ruler, such as a king or queen in a
religious entity.
Whatever you choose, it's vital to decide who holds the most power in your world,
working your way down from there to create a power structure or hierarchy, and
This is a key part of world-building, as it gives structure to your fictional society. It can
also be used to raise the stakes for your characters and create plenty of all-important
conflict.
15
Who wears the crown (literally or figuratively) in your story? Image credit: Pawel Furman
via Unsplash
To help you develop your power system, it's often useful to conduct some research into
real-life systems of government in different cultures and periods of history. You can use
these aspects of reality as a basis for your own system, or incorporate different
For further inspiration, take a look at this summary list of different societal structures
and consider which might work best within your world and story.
16
For more specific guidance, consult this list of world-building questions related to social
organisation. Asking yourself a few key questions about how your world works will help
you get to the heart of your society and the power structure within it.
Finally, as always, it's helpful to study successful examples from fantasy literature. A
key example is the complex politics and power plays in Martin's Song of Ice and Fire
series, which are perhaps the most driving force in its plot and constitute a great
Who holds the power within your world? Do they wield it with force, with magic, with
17
***
So there you have it! If you're thinking about starting a fantasy novel, be sure to
consider these elements in your planning process. If you've already started writing, take
a look back over your story and see whether all these elements are included in some
way.
With these five key ingredients, you'll be well on your way to creating a wonderful
Happy writing!
Claire Bradshaw
Claire is a freelance writer and editor from Newcastle, NSW. She holds a B. A. in
English and Writing and a Graduate Certificate of Editing and Publishing. A lover of
18
books, blogs, magazines, and everything in between, you’ll either find her reading,
working on an editorial project, or drinking endless cups of tea while writing things of her
own.
19